The royal family's wardrobes always make headlines whenever they step out for an engagement. With so many appearances in their full-to-the-brim diaries, it must be quite the task for the royal household to decipher what each member will wear.
Buying new for every outing is no longer celebrated; fast fashion has never been less popular due to the huge toll it takes on the environment. There has been a recent shift embracing the re-wearing of clothes, and donating unwanted garments to charity shops has never been cooler. It's no surprise, therefore, to see royal fasihion icons like the Princess of Wales embracing sustainability; Kate has become the poster girl for outfit repeating and incorporating durable, timeless buys into her outfits, year after year.
© Matt Porteous/Kensington PalaceAnother way to embrace sustainability is to keep clothes in the family, particularly when it comes to children's attire. Babies, toddlers and pre-school children grow so fast that passing on and sharing clothing is a great way to look after our planet and reduce waste. Kate and fellow royal Zara Tindall are both big fans of this and always ensure their children's clothes are passed down to their siblings.
Why fashion hand-me-downs are so important
"Fast fashion sends an extraordinary amount of waste to landfill each year. Of the roughly 100 billion garments produced annually, an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste is created, much of it discarded after only a short lifespan," fashion journalist and sustainable advocate Georgia Brown tells HELLO!. "In a culture built on constant newness, clothing is increasingly treated as disposable, with many pieces worn only a handful of times before being cast aside. The result is an ever-growing demand for textiles, and an ever-expanding mountain of waste."
"Part of the problem lies in quality," the writer says. "To keep up with speed and scale, many garments today are cheaply made using synthetic materials that simply aren’t designed to last. Colours fade, seams unravel, and shapes distort - often long before a piece has had the chance to earn its keep. Compare that with vintage clothing, and the difference is striking. Before fast fashion took hold, garments were crafted with care and durability in mind, which is why so many pieces from previous generations remain in remarkable condition today."
The royals' positive influence
"This is what makes it so refreshing to see public figures championing more thoughtful fashion choices," Georgia adds. "When a royal steps out in a pre-loved or inherited piece, it sends a quietly powerful message: that style doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet. With every outfit scrutinised, wearing something that has stood the test of time reframes sustainability as something aspirational, not restrictive."
© GettyJen Graham, a charity shopper who has presented second-hand fashion segments on This Morning, agrees. "When even the royals rewear, relove and reshare, it sends the strongest message that sustainability is the future of fashion."
Royal hand-me-downs in action
The royal family have been on board with this for many years, including the Princess of Wales and Zara Tindall. Zara exercised this notion when she and husband Mike Tindall took their brood to the New Year's Day Racing Meet at Cheltenham Racecourse on 1 January 2026.
© GettyThe 44-year-old daughter of Princess Anne and her former England rugby star husband, 47, were spotted at the racecourse with their children, Mia, 11, Lena, seven, and Lucas, four. Little Lena was seen wearing a grey coat by Gucci, which her older sister Mia wore back in 2022.
© Photo: Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Princess Charlotte was the centre of attention during the Christmas Day walkabout at Sandringham on 25 December 2025.
© GettyThe 10-year-old daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales joined her brothers, Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, seven, at the service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the royal estate in Norfolk, and her honey-blonde hair was placed into a half-updo, secured with a black velvet bow from Jigsaw, the very same one Kate wore clipped to her red Alexander McQueen coat at the Together at Christmas carol concert in 2024.
© WireImageThe mother-daughter sharing pact is one that many can relate to. Jen, whose Instagram account, @charityshopgirlcsg, is widely followed, explained: "My daughter borrowed my 90s leather jacket on New Year's Eve, and it made my whole day. It's really special! There's a special kind of closeness in borrowing something from someone you love. My daughter dipping into my wardrobe is one of those everyday moments that somehow feels really meaningful. It's amazing how a jacket or a jumper can suddenly feel like a little bridge between two generations."
© Getty ImagesAt the royal Christmas lunch, which was hosted by King Charles and took place at Buckingham Palace on the afternoon of Tuesday, 16 December, Prince Louis was spotted heading to the Yuletide event in the car with Princess Charlotte, and his parents, wearing a swish navy and burgundy striped jumper by Ralph Lauren, over a collared white shirt, which Prince George wore to a pantomime performance of The National Lottery's Pantoland at the London Palladium Theatre in December 2020.
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